US6768838B2 - Optical module - Google Patents

Optical module Download PDF

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Publication number
US6768838B2
US6768838B2 US09/966,097 US96609701A US6768838B2 US 6768838 B2 US6768838 B2 US 6768838B2 US 96609701 A US96609701 A US 96609701A US 6768838 B2 US6768838 B2 US 6768838B2
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Prior art keywords
optical
fiber
collimators
output side
input side
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Expired - Fee Related, expires
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US09/966,097
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US20020041732A1 (en
Inventor
Xiaofan Zhu
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Go Foton Holdings Inc
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Nippon Sheet Glass Co Ltd
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Assigned to NIPPON SHEET GLASS CO., LTD. reassignment NIPPON SHEET GLASS CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: XIAOFAN, ZHU
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Assigned to GO!FOTON HOLDINGS, INC. reassignment GO!FOTON HOLDINGS, INC. PATENT ASSIGNMENT EFFECTIVE AS OF JUNE 30, 2009 Assignors: NIPPON SHEET GLASS CO., LTD.
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
    • G02B6/3564—Mechanical details of the actuation mechanism associated with the moving element or mounting mechanism details
    • G02B6/3582—Housing means or package or arranging details of the switching elements, e.g. for thermal isolation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/32—Optical coupling means having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/32—Optical coupling means having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends
    • G02B6/327—Optical coupling means having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends with angled interfaces to reduce reflections
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
    • G02B6/351—Optical coupling means having switching means involving stationary waveguides with moving interposed optical elements
    • G02B6/3512—Optical coupling means having switching means involving stationary waveguides with moving interposed optical elements the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
    • G02B6/354—Switching arrangements, i.e. number of input/output ports and interconnection types
    • G02B6/3544—2D constellations, i.e. with switching elements and switched beams located in a plane
    • G02B6/3546—NxM switch, i.e. a regular array of switches elements of matrix type constellation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an optical module having a structure in which an input side and an output side disposed to be separated from each other by a free space are optically coupled to each other through an optically functional portion inserted between the input side and the output side.
  • it relates an optical module in which at least one of the input side and the output side has a plurality of collimators at least one of which is made different from the other collimators in at least one variable characteristic parameter to thereby achieve optimum optical coupling between the input side and the output side.
  • the present invention is useful for a matrix optical switch, an optical multiplexer/demultideplexer, an optical tap, and so on.
  • a collimator is used in an optical technology in order to convert divergent light from an exit surface of a light-emitting device or an optical fiber to approximately collimated beams, or contrariwise in order to converge the collimated beams on an incident surface of a photodetector or an optical fiber.
  • an optical module can be formed.
  • the beam diameter may be small and the free space lengths between channels or ports may different from one another in accordance with the channels.
  • a collimator array had a structure in which a required number of collimators of the same kind were simply arranged side by side at regular intervals (so as to make the distance between optical axes of adjacent collimators equal to one another).
  • an optical module is configured by use of collimators of the same kind in the case where free space lengths between channels or ports are different from one another, it is however difficult to achieve low insertion loss and low insertion loss deviation even within a light diffraction limit.
  • This problem is caused by the fact that optical coupling cannot be optimized in accordance with channels or ports, the fact that loss is constrained severely so that further light diffraction loss due to small beams used cannot be allowed, the fact that small-size collimators cannot be used in spite of channels or ports small in free space, and so on.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide various kinds of optical modules small in size, low in insertion loss and low in insertion loss deviation in the case where free space lengths are different from one another between channels or ports.
  • an optical module constituted by a light input side, a light output side disposed to be separated by a free space from the input side, and an optically functional portion inserted between the input side and the output side so that the input side and the output side are optically coupled to each other through the optically functional portion.
  • At least one of the input side and the output side includes a plurality of collimators; and at least one of the collimators is made different from the other collimators in at least one variable characteristic parameter selected from parameters such as a distance between a focal point of a lens and a light exit or incident surface, a numerical aperture of the light exit or incident surface, an effective focal length of the lens, a wavelength used and a distance between optical axes of adjacent ones of the collimators, so that size and position of a beam waist on the input side are made approximately coincident with those on the output side.
  • the light exit surface means a light-emitting surface of a light-emitting device, an end surface of an optical fiber, or the like
  • the light incident surface means a photodetection surface of a photodetector, an end surface of an optical fiber, or the like.
  • At least one of the fiber collimators is made different from the other fiber collimators in at least one variable characteristic parameter selected from parameters such as a distance between a focal point of a lens and an end surface of the optical fiber, a mode field diameter or numerical aperture of the optical fiber, an effective focal length of the lens, a wavelength used and a distance between optical axes of adjacent ones of the fiber collimators, so that size and position of a beam waist on the input side are made approximately coincident with those on the output side.
  • such a plurality of fiber collimators may be provided only on the input side or only on the output side or maybe provided on both the input side and the output side.
  • the output side may be constituted by a combination of a collimator lens and a photodetector.
  • the input side may be constituted by a combination of a light-emitting device and a collimator lens.
  • configuration may be made without using any fiber collimator so that the input side is constituted by a combination of a light-emitting device and a collimator lens whereas the output side is constituted by a combination of a collimator lens and a photodetector.
  • the plurality of collimators disposed on at least one of the input side and the output side have a lens array constituted by a plurality of gradient index rod lenses.
  • either or each of opposite end surfaces of the lens array is provided as an oblique surface with respect to a direction of arrangement of the array to thereby adjust the variable characteristic parameter.
  • the plurality of fiber collimators are disposed on at least one of the input side and the output side, there is a configuration in which the plurality of fiber collimators are constituted by a combination of a lens array of a plurality of gradient index rod lenses and a fiber array of a plurality of optical fibers.
  • either or both of opposite end surfaces of the lens array and/or an end surface of the fiber array are provided as oblique surfaces with respect to a direction of arrangement of the array to thereby adjust the variable characteristic parameter. Further, it is effective to allocate longer wave to a channel longer in free space length.
  • collimators are provided on each of the input side and the output side, the collimators on the output side are disposed at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the collimators on the input side, and a movable mirror is inserted in a position corresponding to each channel in the free space, so that a matrix optical switch can be formed.
  • an optical device constituted by either of a filter and a semi-transparent mirror is used as the optically functional portion, and adjustment is made in such a manner that beam waists as equal to one another as possible are formed on the optical device.
  • an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer or an optical tap can be formed.
  • a fiber collimator with two fibers is disposed on one side whereas a fiber collimator with single fiber is disposed on an opposite side to the side, a filter is provided as the optical device in a free space, one of optical fibers in the fiber collimator with two fibers is provided as an input side whereas the other optical fiber is provided as an output side, an optical fiber in the collimator with single fiber is provided either as an input side or as an output side, and adjustment is made in such a manner that beam waists as equal to one another as possible are formed on a filter surface. In such a manner, an optical multiplexer or an optical demultiplexer can be formed.
  • a fiber collimator with two fibers is disposed on one side whereas a fiber collimator with single fiber is disposed on the opposite side, a semi-transparent mirror is provided as an optical device in a free space, one of optical fibers in the fiber collimator with two fibers is provided as an input side whereas the other optical fiber is provided as an output side, an optical fiber in the collimator with single fiber is provided as an output side, and adjustment is made in such a manner that beam waists of the fiber collimators as equal to one another as possible are formed on the semi-transparent mirror. In such a manner, an optical tap can be formed.
  • FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a fiber collimator coupling system.
  • FIGS. 2 (A) to 2 (C) are explanatory views showing examples of a collimator array constituted by a combination of a fiber array and a lens array.
  • FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an example of an optical module according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing another example of the optical module according to the present invention.
  • variable characteristic parameters in each collimator are the distance between the focal point of the lens and the light exit or incident surface, the numerical aperture of the light exit or incident surface, the effective focal length of the lens, the wavelength used and the distance between the optical axes of adjacent collimators.
  • the variable characteristic parameters thereof are the distance between the focal point of a lens and an end surface of an optical fiber, the mode field diameter or numerical aperture of the optical fiber, the effective focal length of the lens, the wavelength used and the distance between the optical axes of adjacent fiber collimators.
  • f is the effective focal length of each lens
  • d m is equal to nw 2 / ⁇
  • ⁇ is the wavelength.
  • At least one of the following conditions is selected.
  • the distance D (between the focal point of the lens and the position of the beam waist) increases more greatly if the wavelength ⁇ increases. Therefore, parameters are allocated to channels or ports long in free space so that the distance D increases as described above.
  • any suitable lens can be used as the lens used in each of the collimators.
  • the lens may be a convex or spherical lens made of a homogeneous material or may be a gradient index rod lens.
  • adjustment is made so that at least one channel differs from the other channels in at least one variable characteristic parameter selected from parameters such as the distance between the focal point of the lens and the end surface of the optical fiber, the mode field diameter or numerical aperture of the optical fiber, the effective focal length and size (inclusive of the distance between optical axes of adjacent fiber collimators).
  • collimators of the same kind may be used in part of the channels.
  • each variable characteristic parameter is changed, it may be theoretically possible in some cases and theoretically impossible in other cases to make the sizes and positions of the beam waists completely coincident with each other in the whole of the optical module.
  • the sizes and positions of the beam waists are made as coincident as possible in terms of tolerance and assembling accuracy of parts. Even in the case of theoretically impossible combination, it is preferable that the state is made as close to the ideal state as possible.
  • FIGS. 2 (A) to 2 (C) show examples of adjustment of the variable characteristic parameters. These examples show the case where a lens array 20 constituted by a plurality of gradient index rod lenses is combined with a fiber array 24 constituted by a plurality of optical fibers 22 .
  • FIG. 2 (A) shows an example in which an end surface of the fiber array 24 is polished obliquely with respect to the direction of arrangement of the array.
  • FIG. 2 (B) shows an example in which an end surface (facing the fiber array) of the lens array 20 is polished obliquely with respect to the direction of arrangement of the array. In such a manner, the distance between the focal point of each lens and the end surface of a corresponding optical fiber can be adjusted.
  • FIG. 1 shows an example in which an end surface of the fiber array 24 is polished obliquely with respect to the direction of arrangement of the array.
  • FIG. 2 (C) shows an example in which the other end surface of the lens array 20 is polished obliquely with respect to the direction of arrangement of the array.
  • each lens is a gradient index rod lens
  • the distance between the focal point of the lens and the end surface of the optical fiber can be adjusted also in this manner.
  • an oblique surface is provided as described above, there arises an effect that the intensity of light fed back to the optical fiber is attenuated.
  • an oblique surface with respect to a direction perpendicular to the direction of arrangement of the array may be preferably provided.
  • the angle of the inclined surface with respect to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis is preferably set to be in a range of from 1 to 20 degrees.
  • the structure in which an end surface of the lens array is provided as an oblique surface as shown in FIG. 2 (B) or 2 (C) can be applied also to the case where the lens array is combined with a light-emitting device or a photodetector without using any optical fiber.
  • a rod lens array 20 is in the form of a wedge shape, and constructed by a plurality of gradient index rod lenses 20 a arrayed in at least one row (in each example, arrayed in one row), and each extending in parallel to an optical axis direction; and a frame 20 b supporting the gradient index rod lenses 20 a.
  • the frame 20 b has a first end surface perpendicular to the optical axial direction, and a second end surface inclined with respect to the optical axial direction. An end surface of each of the gradient index rod lenses 20 a is flush with the second end surface of the frame 20 b .
  • each said gradient index rod lens 20 a is flush with the first end surface of said frame 20 b .
  • the inclined second end surface of the frame 20 b and the inclined end surfaces of the gradient index rod lenses 20 a are confronted with the end surface of the fiber array 24 .
  • the inclined second end surface of the frame 20 b and the inclined end surfaces of the gradient index rod lenses 20 a are located opposite from the end surface of the fiber array 24 .
  • the lens array 20 and the fiber array 24 may be formed integrally by using a common frame.
  • n ( r ) n 0 (1 ⁇ Ar 2 /2)
  • the effective focal length f can be also adjusted in the same manner as described above.
  • the lens lengths may be equalized to one another if n 0 or A 1/2 in at least one channel can be made different from those in the other channels.
  • FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an example of the optical module according to the present invention.
  • This example shows the case where the present invention is applied to a 4 ⁇ 4 matrix optical switch.
  • Two collimator arrays 30 which serve as the input side and the output side respectively, are arranged at angles different by 90 degrees from each other.
  • Movable mirrors 32 are inserted in respective positions corresponding to channels in a free space.
  • Each of the collimator arrays 30 has a structure in which a fiber array and a lens array are integrated with each other.
  • the fiber array is constituted by four optical fibers 34 arranged side by side.
  • the lens array is constituted by four gradient index rod lenses 36 arranged side by side.
  • the position and size of the beam waist on an input side are made as coincident with those on an output side as possible.
  • points of intersection between the optical axes of the input side and the optical axes of the output side are set to be equivalent to lattice points of a square lattice so that the movable mirrors 32 are arranged at the lattice points respectively and adjusted in such a manner that beam waists are formed on a diagonal line (cross line a—a) of the square lattice.
  • movable mirrors expressed by the slanting lines among the large number of movable mirrors are performing light reflecting operation. When the operation of each movable mirror is controlled, the optical path can be switched to a desired one.
  • Examples of the optical module according to the present invention may include: an optical demultiplexer module in which a filter is used as the optically functional portion while a single collimator is disposed on the input side and a plurality of collimators are disposed on the output side; an optical multiplexer module in which a filter is used as the photofuctional portion while a plurality of collimators are disposed on the input side and a single collimator is disposed on the output side; an optical tap module using semi-transparent mirrors as the optically functional portion; and so on. Also in each of these modules, the variable characteristic parameters are changed so that the position and size of the beam waist in one collimator is made as coincident with those in another collimator as possible.
  • FIG. 4 shows an example of a three-port optical module constituted by a combination of a fiber collimator with two fibers and a fiber collimator with single fiber.
  • Light emitted from one 40 of two optical fibers which are fixed to one capillary and which are parallel to each other is magnified by a first lens 42 .
  • the light is reflected by a plane optical device (filter) 44 and condensed by the first lens 42 .
  • the condensed light enters the other optical fiber 46 .
  • Light transmitted through the optical device 44 is condensed by a second lens 48 .
  • the condensed light enters the optical fiber 50 .
  • the optical device (filter) 44 is disposed at the focal point of the first lens 42 .
  • Beam waists as equal to one another as possible are formed on the reflection surface of the optical device (filter) 44 by all the fiber collimators. In this case, end surfaces of the two fibers are located at the other-side focal point of the first lens.
  • An optical demultiplexer can be achieved by the aforementioned configuration. If the input side and the output side are replaced by each other, an optical multiplexer can be achieved by the same configuration as described above.
  • a semi-transparent mirror may be used as the optical device 44 .
  • an optical tap can be configured to have the input-output relation the same as that in the optical multiplexer.
  • beam waists as equal to each other as possible are formed on the optical device by all the fiber collimators.
  • the present invention may be applied also to the case where a combination of a light-emitting device such as a laser diode and a collimator lens is used on the input side, the case where a combination of a collimator lens and a photodetector such as a photodiode is used on the output side, and so on.
  • At least one collimator constituting an optical module is made different from the other collimator in at least one variable characteristic parameter.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)
  • Mechanical Light Control Or Optical Switches (AREA)
US09/966,097 2000-10-03 2001-10-01 Optical module Expired - Fee Related US6768838B2 (en)

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JP2000303813A JP2002107566A (ja) 2000-10-03 2000-10-03 光機能モジュール
JPP2000-303813 2000-10-03

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080013183A1 (en) * 2006-07-14 2008-01-17 Fujitsu Limited Optical apparatus using a lens array

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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EP1854186B1 (en) * 2004-12-16 2016-11-09 Vectronix AG Pulsed laser diode and all fibre power amplifier
JP5446492B2 (ja) * 2009-06-12 2014-03-19 住友電気工業株式会社 光配列変換デバイス
JP2016095410A (ja) 2014-11-14 2016-05-26 住友電気工業株式会社 グリンレンズアレイ、レンズ付きコネクタ、及びレンズ付きコネクタシステム
JP7094683B2 (ja) * 2017-10-06 2022-07-04 住友電気工業株式会社 光受信モジュール

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4331380A (en) * 1980-05-21 1982-05-25 Xerox Corporation Gradient index lens array having reduction properties
US4589736A (en) * 1984-11-23 1986-05-20 Xerox Corporation Two row reduction/enlargement gradient index lens array having square-ended fibers
US5953162A (en) * 1997-07-28 1999-09-14 Blankenbecler; Richard Segmented GRIN anamorphic lens
US5960132A (en) * 1997-09-09 1999-09-28 At&T Corp. Fiber-optic free-space micromachined matrix switches
US20020021868A1 (en) * 1999-07-16 2002-02-21 Mandella Michael J. Collimators and collimator arrays employing ellipsoidal solid immersion lenses
US6424759B1 (en) * 1999-10-12 2002-07-23 Primawave Photonics, Inc. Mechanically actuated MXN optical switch matrix
US6526196B1 (en) * 2001-03-09 2003-02-25 Oxconn Optical Technology Inc. Optical switch using rotatable reflector
US20030128437A1 (en) * 2001-12-28 2003-07-10 Yoshiro Sato Collimator array

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4331380A (en) * 1980-05-21 1982-05-25 Xerox Corporation Gradient index lens array having reduction properties
US4589736A (en) * 1984-11-23 1986-05-20 Xerox Corporation Two row reduction/enlargement gradient index lens array having square-ended fibers
US5953162A (en) * 1997-07-28 1999-09-14 Blankenbecler; Richard Segmented GRIN anamorphic lens
US5960132A (en) * 1997-09-09 1999-09-28 At&T Corp. Fiber-optic free-space micromachined matrix switches
US20020021868A1 (en) * 1999-07-16 2002-02-21 Mandella Michael J. Collimators and collimator arrays employing ellipsoidal solid immersion lenses
US6424759B1 (en) * 1999-10-12 2002-07-23 Primawave Photonics, Inc. Mechanically actuated MXN optical switch matrix
US6526196B1 (en) * 2001-03-09 2003-02-25 Oxconn Optical Technology Inc. Optical switch using rotatable reflector
US20030128437A1 (en) * 2001-12-28 2003-07-10 Yoshiro Sato Collimator array

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080013183A1 (en) * 2006-07-14 2008-01-17 Fujitsu Limited Optical apparatus using a lens array
US7982957B2 (en) * 2006-07-14 2011-07-19 Fujitsu Limited Optical apparatus using a lens array

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JP2002107566A (ja) 2002-04-10
US20020041732A1 (en) 2002-04-11

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